Christmas is just a month away and it is now time to start listing names of who to send warm and thoughtful Christmas greetings to. With Christmas fast approaching and kids having a lot of breaks, here are some great ideas that the kids can make on their own, get busy, get the creativity going and clean up by themselves! These gift craft ideas are fun, easy to make and not messy! Plus it matches their “My Christmas” theme for this year. Here’s how to start your “I made something for you” present.
Snow themed photo frame magnet. It is a very thoughtful gift to give those who are not only far away but also to family and friends who want to see your little munchkins face on their fridge! All you will need are the following:
Foam fame
Foam Snowflakes
Magnets
Duplicated copies of a favorite photograph
You may buy all these items from Lakeshore or any major craft stores (wherever is cheaper). You may also substitute construction paper for the frame and use any unused magnets. (I use the magnets that come with the phonebooks. I cut them in several uniformed pieces. Not only can you teach the child to recycle by example, you also help the planet!) When using construction paper, cut it in half. You may laminate the end product if desired or if possible.
1.1. Remove strip from the back of the foam frame (if yours does not come with adhesive, put glue) tell the child to decorate the frame with foam flakes. Press firmly. Turn and place magnet strips or dots on the four sides.
Or
1.2. If you are using the construction paper, place picture in the middle. Decorate with snowflakes on the sides. Turn, and place magnets on the back.
Snow Family
Using the play dough recipe, this is a very cute activity that children of all ages love! The following are needed to do this fun very cute craft that you can treasure for a “few” years to come.
Toothpicks
Small twigs
Small tags
Roll up three balls of different sizes. Small, medium and large. Place toothpick in the middle of the large ball. This should help keep the balls in place. Stack the medium and small ball on top of each other forming a snow man. Get a tooth pick and let the child draw the face (this part may take a few tries). Stick two small twigs on the side. Whalla! A snowman. To make a “Snow Woman”, make the bottom have a slight triangular bottom to look like a skirt. (I got this idea from my child). Let stand for a week or two to harden. Make as many as you want or until dough runs out! (But you can always make more right?) When the Snow “people” are hardened, get the tag, have the child write his or her name and hang around the snow man.
Brown Bag Special
Brown bags, markers and a wild imagination is needed here. Depending on how many people your kids want to give presents to would be the bags that he or she will be “wanting to make”. This activity encourages kids to sit and focus on one task.
Armed with the markers and his/ her imagination, give the brown bags one at a time. Let him/her “design the bags”. When done, place the frame magnet , Snowman or both. Stickers are great to seal the bags.
